The coming changes in how lawyers practice

The coming changes in how lawyers practice by Ron Friedmann is today’s contribution to Dialogue. Ron’s experience and acuity as an observer make his opinions valuable, most especially on topics like this one.  

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Posted by on Nov 11, 2016 in BigLaw firms, Lawyers | 1 comment

The Lateral Unicorn – Recruiting a Fantasy

Today’s thinkpiece by Tim Corcoran, The Lateral Unicorn – Recruiting a Fantasy, is not only timely (once again!), but also cogently put. Trade media headlines using phrases like ‘lateral hiring frenzy’ and ‘laterals hit another record’ abound and make good voyeuristic copy. But I think Tim’s headline, The Lateral Unicorn – Recruiting a Fantasy, really nails the issue. Read why. 

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Posted by on Nov 4, 2016 in BigLaw firms, Lawyers | 0 comments

Stop Pummelling BigLaw

Ken Grady’s title of his post today, Stop Pummelling BigLaw, is a really important sentiment with which I wholeheartedly agree. The BigLaw industry (remember BigLaw refers to the business model of all but a handful of today’s larger law firms) comprises 10s of 1000s of firms around the world. As Ken says “BigLaw is tough enough to take the punches and it doesn’t need me to defend it“, but the commentariat and NewLaw are serving no one’s interests by BigLaw bashing. 

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Posted by on Oct 25, 2016 in BigLaw firms, Clients, Lawyers | 0 comments

Acceleration in the pace of change

Acceleration in the pace of change was the theme earlier this month at the Law Firm Leaders Forum in NYC. Ralph Baxter, Chairman of the Thomson Reuters’ Legal Executive Institute (which sponsored the Forum), opened a panel discussion with pithy observations and opinion. I paraphrase; the full text is here. 

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Posted by on Oct 20, 2016 in BigLaw firms, NewLaw business models | 0 comments

Law Firm Partners: If It Ain’t Broke…

Law Firm Partners: If It Ain’t Broke… by D. Casey Flaherty begins “It is rational for someone who has been wildly successful doing something a certain way to keep doing it that way, especially when the odds appear favorable that they will continue to be successful. Most people don’t exit their comfort zone without a compelling reason. This is doubly true of many high-status experts.” These words from D. Casey Flaherty echo those of David Maister, a prescient observer of the legal profession: “How do you tell a room full of people making a million dollars a year that they are wrong?“.  

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Posted by on Oct 19, 2016 in BigLaw firms | 1 comment

Will all lawyers work for the Big 4 by 2026?

Last month Ron Friedmann addressed the question ‘Will All Lawyers Work for the Big 4 by 2026?’. Ron is a highly regarded commentator on big issues in the legal services industry, so his answer to this provocative question about the impact of the Big 4 on the established order is a welcome contribution to Dialogue. 

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Posted by on Oct 14, 2016 in BigLaw firms, Lawyers | 2 comments

Managing Partners on Change: Clients Don’t Ask, Partners Resist

Managing Partners on Change: Clients Don’t Ask, Partners Resist by D. Casey Flaherty is the first of a pair of posts on the challenge of effecting deep change in BigLaw model law firms. In Remaking Law Firms: Why & How we devoted the capstone chapter to this crucial subject. D. Casey Flaherty’s evidence-based insights are highly pertinent.

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Posted by on Oct 11, 2016 in BigLaw firms, Clients | 0 comments